Trash can dolly

ABSTRACT

The following specification describes a trash can dolly comprising a pair of separable U-shaped arms which are assembled at the site in non-rotatable coplanar relationship by means of spaced integrally formed lips and apertures in the respective arms and nesting offset wall portions adjacent the midportion of each arm. The dolly arms have elongate slots at each end for enabling the arms to be secured in common to a can having appropriately positioned peripheral openings, or the slots are used to secure brackets for nestingly receiving other types of cans. In the latter case, the arms are secured together by means of aligned openings and in the case of a snap-fitted can a retainer is secured in common to the arms for engaging the snapfitted can. In addition, the arms are provided with appropriate recesses and openings for receiving caster stems and fastening means to avoid interference between the can and the caster stems.

tes 1 1 Fonts/111a Aug. 27', R974 l' SH CAN DOLLY [75] Inventor: Frank J. Fontana, Stratford, Conn. [57] Assigneei Stewart-Wilmer Corporafifln, The following specification describes a trash can dolly Chlcago, m1 comprising a pair of separable U-shaped arms which [22] Filed: N0 27, 1972 are assembled at the site in non-rotatable coplanar relationship by means of spaced integrally formed lips PP NO! ,721 and apertures in the respective arms and nesting offset wall portions adjacent the midportion of each arm. 52 11.8. C1. 280/791, 248/DlG 7 The dolly arms have elongate slots at eaeh end fer 511 1111/. C1 B62b 5/00 ebling the arms to be Secured in Common to a can [58] Field of Search 280/792, 79.1; having appropriately Positioned Peripheral Openings, 248/DIG 7, 154 or the slots are used to secure brackets for nestingly receiving other types of cans. In the latter case, the [56] References flied arms are secured together by means of aligned openings and in the case of a snap-fitted can a retainer is UNITED STATES PATENTS secured in common to the arms for engaging the snapg; g g

fitted can. In addition, the arms are provided with apa es 3,532,313 10/1970 Brayton 248/154 propnatedrgcesss and Openmgs 9; 3 554 573 1/1971 Mlllfil' 280/792 Stems an astenmg means to creme b27784 10/1897 Gander 280/791 tween the can and the caste Stems- Primary Examiner-Robert R. Song 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEmuezma SHEH 1 0F 3 FIGJ PATENTED I 3'083lu959 SHEET 2 0f 3 FIG.4

PAIENI m2 11974 ,331 959 sum 30? a TRASH (IAN LIX FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to dollies and more DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Dollies for use in carrying trash cans generally comprise a plate or pair of cross arms having casters fastened at 90 intervals for rolling the trash can over various surfaces. The arms are generally secured to each other together with the casters by the manufacturer necessitating a large bulky package for shipment, and replacement of damaged parts may require a new assembly. Since the garbage cans are of different type and size, respective arrangements for holding the can on the dolly must also be provided, thereby limiting the versatility of the dolly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above and other problems by providing the arms with nestingly engaging offset wall portions adjacent their midportions, together with spaced lips in one arm engaging apertures on the other arm for enabling proper assembly of the arms in non-rotatable coplanar relationship. The arms can therefore be shipped in a relatively small package and assembled easily at the site, and replacement of any part is easily made.

Each arm is provided with an appropriate aperture to permit a retainer to be fastened thereto for receiving a snap-fitted garbage can. Alternatively, slots adjacent each arm end pennit cans with appropriately spaced peripheral openings to be secured in common to the arms or L-shaped brackets to be secured to the arms for nestingly receiving a can, which does not have peripheral openings. Recesses having central openings adjacent each arm end permit a caster having a threaded stem to be fastened to each arm without projecting above the arm plane.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an economical and versatile garbage can dolly.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent on examination of the following specification and claims, together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an isometric view of an assembled dolly incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the dolly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded fragmentary isometric view of one of the locating lips and slot arrangement on respective arms;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the manner in which a snap-fitted can is secured to the dolly;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the manner in which an L-shaped bracket is fastened to the dolly for nestingly receiving a can;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally alongthe line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the manner in which a can having a plurality of spaced bottom peripheral apertures is secured to the dolly;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the dolly and a trash can portion carried on the dolly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A dolly incorporating the principles of the present invention is indicated in FIG. I by the reference character 10. The dolly It) comprises a pair of longitudinally extending arms 12 and 14.

The arms 12 and 14 each comprise a generally U shaped channel member having a respective back wall or leg 16 and 18 and respective sidewalls or legs 22 and 24. The back leg 16 of member 12 is recessed or offset downwardly intermediate its ends to define an offset midportion 20 having two spaced sidewalls 26 parallel to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of leg 16. The legs 24 of arm 14 are each formed by folding a portion of the leg 18 on opposite sides of the midportion 28 of arm 14 from the plane of leg 18 to thereby render leg 18 as wide as the distance between walls 26 at the midportion 28. The spaced walls 26 nestingly receive therebetween the respective opposite edges of portion 28 of arm 14 with portion 28 overlapping portion 20. The portion 28 is substantially as wide as the space between walls 26 and is substantially as long as the width of arm 12 so that the legs 24 nest offset portion 20 therebetween, whereby portions 20 and 28 resist relative rotation between the arms.

Four equally spaced depending longitudinally extending lips 30 are integrally formed by piercing portion 28 adjacent opposite comers of portion 28. One pair of lips 30 extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of one arm and to the other pair so that at least one pair of lips are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each arm. The lips 30 are arranged for engagement in correspondingly shaped and positioned holes or apertures 32 in offset portion 20 to hold the two arms 12 and 14 in perpendicular positions and against relative rotation. A pair of spaced holes 34 in portion 28 aligned with a pair of holes 36 in portion 20 and aligned central apertures 38 and 40 in portions 28 and 20, respectively, permit the arms 12 and 14 to be appropriately fastened together.

A recess 42 is provided adjacent each end of each back leg 16 and 18 by deformation of the legs and an aperture 44 formed in the center of each recess 42 to receive the threaded stem 46 of a respective caster 48. The recesses 42 are offset slightly at opposite arm ends on opposite sides of the arm elongate axis and nest washers and nuts 50 for engaging stems 46 to fasten the casters 48 to the ends of arms 12 and 14 with the nuts below the upper surface of wals 16 and 18. Rivet fastening may also be used.

Each leg 16 and I8 is also provided with an elongate slot 52 adjacent each end of each arm and offset from an adjacent recess for receiving a bolt 53 to fasten an arm of an L-shaped retainer or bracket 54 as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The L-shaped retainers or brackets 54 grasp the periphery of a typical .20-gallon can, a portion of which is indicated at 56. Alternatively, a bolt 57 is provided in slot 52 for direct attachment to a boss on a garbage or trash can, a portion of which is indicated at 58 in FIGS. 7 and 8. The elongate axis of each slot 52 is at a slight angle to the elongate axis of the arm and directed toward the arm axis in a radial inward direction to facilitate alignment of the L-shaped brackets 54 with a can periphery or with the spaced openings in the can.

To assemble the dolly 10, the casters 48 are independently secured in each opening 44. If the dolly is simply to carry a garbage or trash can without retaining means, a pair of sheet metal screws inserted through apertures 34 and 36 fasten the two arms 12 and 14 together.

The dolly can also be arranged to carry a conventional type of snap-fitted trash can, be portion of which is indicated at 59 in FIG. 4. Can 59 is adapted to be snap-fitted on a conventional retainer or plug assembly 60, which may, for example, by typified by the plug shown in US. Pat. No. 3,5l2,740. The conventional plug assembly 60 comprises a flanged disc 62 carrying an O-ring 64 and is fastened to the dolly arms l2 and 14 by means of a bolt and nut 65 secured in apertures 38 and 40 and extending through a depending central boss of the plug. The disc 62 has a series of peripheral lips 66 projecting radially therefrom in peripherally alternate positions from a series of peripheral walls 68 projecting radially from the disc flange with the top of walls 68 spaced from lips 66 to secure the expandible O-ring 64 therebetween. The O-ring projects slightly beyond the periphery of lips 66 and walls 68. The can 59 has concave or upwardly dished bottom from which an annular flange 70 depends. The inner surface of flange 70 has a notch 72 and the flange is fitted over the lips 66 and walls 68 until the protruding portion of the O-ring engages in the notch 70 to retain the can 58 on the dolly.

In the event a can such as 56, typically a gallon can, is to be used, bolts 53 extended through the elongate slots 52 serve to fasten the L-shaped brackets 54 to the arms 12 and 14 after the two arms 12 and 14 are fastened together by means of sheet metal screws extending through apertures 34 and 36. The slots 52 of course permit adjustment in the bracket positions to accommodate dimensional differences in the cans and grasp the periphery of can 56. Since cans 56 and 59 are not directly attached to the casters, force transmission to the cans is minimized to prevent distortion of their bottom walls and consequent leakage.

In the use of 32 or 44 gallon cans such as 58 having a plurality of spaced openings adjacent the bottom wall periphery formed either in spaced bosses or a dished bottom wall is to be used with the dolly 10, bolts 57 inserted through slots 52 serve to fasten both the dolly arms 12 and 14 to the can and to each other by means of bolts 57 with the slots accommodating dimensional differences in the hole position.

The foregoing is a description of an improved dolly whose inventive concepts are believed set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dolly for carrying any one of a plurality of different types of trash can retainers with each retainer adapted to retain a trash can of a respective type,said dolly comprising a pair of elongate arm with each arm having a U-shaped cross-section defining a respective pair of side legs and a respective back leg with one of said arms being offset downwardly adjacent the midportion thereof to define spaced sidewalls extending perpendicular to the elongate axis of said one arm, each side leg of the other arm being formed in coplanar relationship with the back leg of said other arm adjacent the midportion of said other arm for nesting receipt between said sidewalls, said other arm side legs nestingly receiving the side legs and offset portion of said one arm in response to engagement of said other arm midportion with said one arm midportion whereby the elongate axes of said arms are arranged in perpendicular relationship and restrained against rotation with the back legs of said arms in coplanar relationship, means integrally formed in the offset portion of said one arm and the midportion of said other arm for mutual engagement to further restrain relative rotation between said arms in response to the nested receipt of said offset other arm side legs between said one arm sidewalls, each arm back leg having means aligned along a common axis perpendicular to the plane of said back legs in response to said nested receipt to enable said arms to be optionally fastened in common to each other and to a retainer of one type, means formed adjacent each arm end for enabling a caster to be secured to each arm adjacent each end and below the plane of said back legs, and an elongate passageway formed adjacent each end of each arm for enabling a retainer of another type to be secured to each arm.

2. A dolly as claimed in claim 1 in which said one arm offset portion has a pair of spaced apertures formed in the back leg with each aperture aligned with a respective aperture in the back leg of the other arm in response to said nested receipt to enable said arms to be fastened together.

3. A dolly as claimed in claim 2 in which said means aligned along said common axis comprises an aperture in each back leg.

4. A dolly as claimed in claim 3 in which said caster means for enabling a caster to be secured to each arm end comprises a recess adjacent each arm end with each recess having a central aperture to receive a caster stem and fastening means therefor below the upper surface of each back leg.

5. A dolly as claimed in claim 4 in which each elongate slot is offset from the elongate axis of the respective arm and the elongate axis of each slot extends at a small angle toward the respective arm axis in an inward radial direction toward the common axis of said aligned central apertures.

6. A dolly for carrying any one of a plurality of different types of trash can retainers with each type adapted to retain a trash can of a respective type, said dolly comprising a pair of elongate arms with each arm having a U-shaped cross section defining a respective pair of side legs and a respective back leg, means enabling said back legs to be located in coplanar relationship in response to the arrangement of the elongate axes of said arms in perpendicular relationship to each other with the midportions of said arms engaged with each other, means integrally formed in each arm for mutual engagement to restrain relative rotation between said arms, each arm back leg having means aligned along a common axis perpendicular to the plane of said back legs in response to said engagement to enable said arms to be optionally fastened in common to each other and to a retainer of one type, means formed adjacent each arm end for enabling a caster to be secured to each arm adjacent each end and below the plane of said back legs, and other means formed adjacent each end of each arm for enabling a retainer of another type to be secured to each arm. 

1. A dolly for carrying any one of a plurality of different types of trash can retainers with each retainer adapted to retain a trash can of a respective type, said dolly comprising a pair of elongate arm with each arm having a U-shaped cross-section defining a respective pair of side legs and a respective back leg with one of said arms being offset downwardly adjacent the midportion thereof to define spaced sidewalls extending perpendicular to the elongate axis of said one arm, each side leg of the other arm being formed in coplanar relationship with the back leg of said other arm adjacent the midportion of said other arm for nesting receipt between said sidewalls, said other arm side legs nestingly receiving the side legs and offset portion of said one arm in response to engagement of said other arm midportion with said one arm midportion whereby the elongate axes of said arms are arranged in perpendicular relationship and restrained against rotation with the back legs of said arms in coplanar relationship, means integrally formed in the offset portion of said one arm and the midportion of said other arm for mutual engagement to further restrain relative rotation between said arms in response to the nested receipt of said offset other arm side legs between said one arm sidewalls, each arm back leg having means aligned along a common axis perPendicular to the plane of said back legs in response to said nested receipt to enable said arms to be optionally fastened in common to each other and to a retainer of one type, means formed adjacent each arm end for enabling a caster to be secured to each arm adjacent each end and below the plane of said back legs, and an elongate passageway formed adjacent each end of each arm for enabling a retainer of another type to be secured to each arm.
 2. A dolly as claimed in claim 1 in which said one arm offset portion has a pair of spaced apertures formed in the back leg with each aperture aligned with a respective aperture in the back leg of the other arm in response to said nested receipt to enable said arms to be fastened together.
 3. A dolly as claimed in claim 2 in which said means aligned along said common axis comprises an aperture in each back leg.
 4. A dolly as claimed in claim 3 in which said caster means for enabling a caster to be secured to each arm end comprises a recess adjacent each arm end with each recess having a central aperture to receive a caster stem and fastening means therefor below the upper surface of each back leg.
 5. A dolly as claimed in claim 4 in which each elongate slot is offset from the elongate axis of the respective arm and the elongate axis of each slot extends at a small angle toward the respective arm axis in an inward radial direction toward the common axis of said aligned central apertures.
 6. A dolly for carrying any one of a plurality of different types of trash can retainers with each type adapted to retain a trash can of a respective type, said dolly comprising a pair of elongate arms with each arm having a U-shaped cross section defining a respective pair of side legs and a respective back leg, means enabling said back legs to be located in coplanar relationship in response to the arrangement of the elongate axes of said arms in perpendicular relationship to each other with the midportions of said arms engaged with each other, means integrally formed in each arm for mutual engagement to restrain relative rotation between said arms, each arm back leg having means aligned along a common axis perpendicular to the plane of said back legs in response to said engagement to enable said arms to be optionally fastened in common to each other and to a retainer of one type, means formed adjacent each arm end for enabling a caster to be secured to each arm adjacent each end and below the plane of said back legs, and other means formed adjacent each end of each arm for enabling a retainer of another type to be secured to each arm. 